Skiers, riders take over downtown Steamboat in rail jam

Skier Pelle Seiler slides down a rail feature Friday evening in downtown Steamboat as one of about 50 competitors in the Urbane Midtown Crisis Rail Jam.

Rail jam results

■ Men’s ski

First: Tyler Kamenick

Second: Jeremy Brown

Third: Ben Von Thaden

■ Men’s snowboard

First: Kyle Kelley

Second: Brandon S.

Third: Erik Van Assche

■ Women’s division (ski and snowboard)

First: Ashley Conner

Second: Lauren Weiber

Third: Whitney Poulin

Steamboat Springs — As a warm Friday afternoon eased into a mild evening, about 50 skiers and snowboarders proved to hundreds of onlookers that winter isn't quite over.

Hurdling down a 15-foot ramp and sliding across metal rails, the athletes took over a block of Seventh Street in downtown Steamboat Springs for the third annual Urbane Midtown Crisis Rail Jam. Organizers trucked in snow and used rails from Steamboat Ski Area for the three-hour, jam-style event, which featured 50 competitors of all ages vying for cash prizes.

Winning in the snowboard division was local Kyle Kelley while Tyler Kamenick took home the skiing honors. Snowboarder Ashley Conner won the women's division, which included skiers and snowboarders.

Skier Robbie Brown and his friends, who are freshmen at Steamboat Springs High School, said the event was "pretty sick."

"It's so word," Brown said. "Like, as in, 'word up.' The rails are nice and smooth, and there's a lot of good competition out there."

There were two large rails and a wall ride for the skiers and snowboarders to perform their tricks, as well as a small up-rail leading into one of the main features.

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After a qualifying round, the top 10 skiers and top 10 snowboarders were chosen to jam in the finals under the artificial lights.

Skier Kai Doyle, 10, said he knows many of the competitors from the terrain park at Steamboat Ski Area, even though many of the riders are twice his age.

"It's a lot of fun just hanging out with all my friends," Doyle said.

Local skier Eric Samuelson said the skiers set the bar high, but that didn't make it any less fun. He said the toughest trick he saw in the qualifying rounds was a smooth 270-on, surface-switch, 270-off.

"The level of riding was great," Urbane co-owner Trent Kolstem said. The downtown clothing store and skate shop put on the event with help from several sponsors. "The features were great, we were glad to have some new features this year.